Vivid Sydney has announced its dates for next year’s festival, which will run from May 28 until June 19.
Less than a week after the end of Vivid Sydney 2026, Destination NSW has revealed when next year’s festival will take place. In 2027, Vivid Sydney will run from May 28 until June 19.
Running later than in previous years, the festival has shifted its dates to better align with the June long weekend.
Will the drones be back?
The announcement of next year’s dates follows a turbulent year for Vivid Sydney, marked by the much-anticipated return of the festival’s drone show. After being cancelled in 2025 due to safety concerns, the popular event made a comeback in 2026, drawing large crowds eager to see the spectacle over Sydney Harbour.
However, the celebration was short-lived. A technical malfunction during one performance caused almost 90 drones to fall into the harbour, forcing organisers to suspend the show while investigations were carried out. All remaining drone shows were then cancelled and replaced by a fireworks show.
After two troubled years for the drone show, attention will now turn to whether Destination NSW decides to bring the attraction back in 2027. Given that the 2026 drone show wasn’t confirmed until April, it may be some time before they reveal whether the attraction will return in 2027.
What went well?
Despite the negativity surrounding the drone shows, Vivid Sydney 2026 was a solid year, particularly in their music and food-focused events.
The multi-arts festival delivered a strong program across the city, featuring 217 events and more than 2200 sessions across 89 locations.
The Vivid Fire Kitchen, which had a new home in Barangaroo, sold more than 250,000 dishes and drinks.
Vivid LIVE, which brought artists like Lil’ Kim, Ella Mai and Porter Robinson, recorded its strongest box office result since COVID-19, with nearly 40,000 tickets sold.
Their first major outdoor spectacle, Cristal Palace on the Sydney Opera House Forecourt, was a standout, attracting more than 15,000 visitors and underscoring the continuing appeal of free events.
How you could be part of Vivid 2027
Vivid Sydney 2027 has also opened Expressions of Interest for “artists, innovators, engineers, musicians, chefs, producers, restaurateurs, thought-leaders, speakers, performers and out-of-the-box thinkers” to submit their concepts for Vivid Sydney 2027.
Destination NSW stated, “We’re looking for groundbreaking concepts that engage, provoke thought and inspire wonder. Let your creativity run wild, help us celebrate the vibrant spirit of Sydney and submit your innovative ideas for Vivid Sydney 2027.
Vivid Sydney is enjoyed by millions of people of all ages from around the world. It is a vital tourism drawcard for Sydney, for NSW, and for Australia, so please consider how your work will be experienced in the context of a mass audience, especially national and international tourists. Ask yourself whether your work is of a calibre and distinction to attract and engage audiences from across the nation and around the world.”
Karen Jones, the CEO of Destination NSW said: “Whether you’re an emerging creative or an established industry leader, Vivid Sydney offers a unique opportunity to showcase your work on one of the biggest cultural stages and be part of an event that transforms our city and captivates millions of visitors.”
Applications for light installations and projection art must be submitted online via the application form by 5pm on Monday, July 27 2026, where music, minds and food concept must be submitted by 5pm on Friday 28 August 2026.
You can find the forms to submit your ideas here.
